The Asus ROG Flow Series promises a compact, ultra-portable gaming laptop that lets you play anywhere, taking your PC wherever you go. However, in reality, you may quickly find yourself disappointed if you try to use it that way.
After two years of regular use and taking the laptop with me wherever I needed, I was satisfied—until, suddenly, it wouldn’t power on anymore. I initiated a warranty claim, only to be informed that the motherboard had suffered oxidation damage and that this issue wasn’t covered under warranty. In other words, I was asked to pay €1,450 for repairs on a laptop I purchased for €2,200 just two years earlier.
The oxidation was due to moisture ingress and dust accumulation. Moisture can be caused by common temperature changes or climate shifts, and dust is unavoidable anywhere. To be clear, I never took this laptop to construction sites or underwater! These are common, everyday conditions that any portable device should be equipped to handle.
It is both incomprehensible and unreasonable that the warranty does not cover such an issue. This laptop was marketed for on-the-go use, yet fails after standard conditions, and ASUS declines responsibility. For a product intended to endure regular transport and various environments, warranty coverage for oxidation should be a given. The refusal to cover this damage only highlights the poor design decisions and lack of foresight in providing basic protections for portable use.
For oxidation issues to arise after just two years of normal use clearly points to a design flaw. ASUS did not anticipate the standard protective measures required for a laptop intended to be moved and used in diverse environments. This lack of foresight in design and protection is disappointing and, ultimately, the manufacturer’s responsibility.
